Daily Current Affairs Quiz
27 November, 2025
National Affairs
1. Aravalli Hills
Source: IE
Context:
- The Supreme Court of India on 20 November 2025 accepted a new definition of the Aravalli Hills, following government panel recommendations.
- Previous definitions included hills and slopes of lower elevation; the new definition focuses only on hills ≥ 100 metres above local relief, along with their adjacent slopes.
About Aravalli Hills
- Geography: One of the oldest mountain ranges in India, stretching approximately 692 km across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat.
- Formation: Dates back over 1.5 billion years, making it among the world’s oldest fold mountains.
- Ecological Significance:
- Acts as a wind and dust barrier, preventing desertification from Thar Desert.
- Helps in groundwater recharge and sustains rivers and wells in surrounding areas.
- Provides habitat and corridors for wildlife, supporting biodiversity.
- Moderates micro-climate and improves air quality near urban-industrial regions.
- Economic Importance: Source of minerals (marble, quartz, copper, lead, zinc) and contributes to tourism and agriculture.
Key Changes
| Aspect | Old Definition | New Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Elevation | Hills ≥ 20 m above surrounding terrain | Hills ≥ 100 m above local relief |
| Coverage | 12,081 mapped hills (20 m+) | 1,048 hills (~8.7%) |
| Legal Status | Protected under environmental laws | Only ~8.7% retain “Aravalli Hill” status; ~90% lose protection |
| Implication for Land Use | Restricted mining & construction | Large-scale areas now potentially open for mining, real estate, and development |
Major Hill Ranges in India
| Hill Range | Location (States) | Highest Peak (m) | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aravalli Hills | Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat | Guru Shikhar (1,722) | Oldest fold mountains, prevent desertification, groundwater recharge |
| Vindhya Range | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar | Sad-bhawna Peak (~752) | Cultural divide N/S India, source of rivers like Betwa |
| Satpura Range | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh | Dhupgarh (1,350) | Dense forests, tribal settlements, rich biodiversity |
| Western Ghats | Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu | Anamudi (2,695) | UNESCO heritage site, biodiversity hotspot, origin of Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri |
| Eastern Ghats | Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu | Arma Konda (1,680) | Discontinuous, mineral-rich, origin of rivers like Mahanadi |
| Himalayas | J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal | Kangchenjunga (8,586) | Young fold mountains, glaciation, climate barrier |
| Shivalik Hills | Foothills of Himalayas (Punjab, Haryana, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim) | — | Youngest mountains, all |
2. 3.5-Billion-Year-Old Mars Crater
Source: TH
Context:
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved naming a 3.5 billion-year-old crater on Mars after M.S. Krishnan, one of India’s pioneering geologists. The proposal was submitted by two Kerala-based researchers and marks a significant recognition of Indian scientific heritage in planetary nomenclature.
Mars Craters
A crater on Mars is a circular depression formed primarily by the impact of meteoroids, asteroids, or comets striking the surface.
Notable Craters on Mars:
| Crater Name | Location/Region | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Gale Crater | Aeolis region | Landing site of Curiosity Rover; evidence of ancient water |
| Jezero Crater | Syrtis Major Planum | Landing site of Perseverance Rover; ancient river delta |
| Huygens Crater | Southern hemisphere | Large, heavily eroded crater |
| Hellas Basin | Southern hemisphere | One of the largest impact basins in the Solar System |
| Gusev Crater | Near Martian equator | Explored by Spirit Rover; past water flows |
Mars Crater Named ‘Krishnan Crater’
- The crater, billions of years old, will now be officially known as Krishnan Crater.
- Named after M.S. Krishnan (1898–1970), a legendary Indian geologist and the first Indian Director of the Geological Survey of India.
Kerala Place Names Adopted on Mars
IAU approved several Kerala-based names for smaller Martian features associated with the crater:
- Valiamala
- Thumba
- Bekal
- Varkala
- Periyar
These names will represent smaller craters and a vallis (valley), creating Martian counterparts of well-known Kerala locations.
3. Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-III)
Source: BS
Context:
The third edition of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-III) norms, set to apply between FY28 and FY32, has reignited debate in the Indian automobile industry. While intended to cut fleet-wide CO₂ emissions and improve fuel efficiency, the draft norms raise questions beyond affordability, touching on urban pollution, public health, safety standards, and market structure.
CAFE Norms
CAFE-III refers to the third phase of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency norms for automobiles in India. These norms set fleet-wide fuel efficiency and CO₂ emission standards that vehicle manufacturers must meet. Essentially, it requires manufacturers to ensure that the average fuel efficiency of all vehicles they sell meets a specified target.
Key Features
- CAFE norms in India have been in force since FY18, targeting fleet-wide carbon dioxide emission reduction for all passenger vehicle manufacturers.
- CAFE-III introduces tighter targets, requiring higher investments in better-designed components.
- Electric vehicles (EVs) will count as super credits, incentivising manufacturers to transition to zero- or low-emission vehicles.
- Scope: Applies to all manufacturers producing vehicles for the Indian market.
4. Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) Scheme
Source: TOI
Context:
The Union Cabinet has approved a first-of-its-kind scheme to promote the manufacture of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) in India. The scheme aims to enhance self-reliance, reduce import dependence, and position India as a global player in critical magnet supply for strategic industries.
Scheme Overview
- Name: Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets
- Total outlay: ₹7,280 crore
- Sales-linked incentives: ₹6,450 crore over five years
- Capital subsidy: ₹750 crore for manufacturing facilities
- Total capacity target: 6,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA)
- Allocation: Up to 1,200 MTPA per beneficiary through global competitive bidding
- Duration: 7 years
- 2-year gestation period for setup
- 5-year incentive disbursement
Strategic Importance of REPMs
REPMs are critical components with applications in:
- Electric Vehicles (EVs)
- Renewable energy systems
- Electronics and aerospace
- Defence technologies
The scheme will support the entire production value chain, converting:
- Rare earth oxides → metals → alloys → finished REPMs
Banking/Finance
1. BHIM Launches Full Delegation Feature on UPI Circle
Source: ET
Context:
The Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app, operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has rolled out a full delegation feature for UPI Circle. The initiative aims to attract new users to India’s real-time payments ecosystem.
BHIM UPI Circle
UPI Circle Full Delegation allows a primary user to authorize a secondary user to make independent UPI payments from the primary user’s bank account, within predefined limits and timeframes.
Purpose
- Enhance digital inclusion: Enables senior citizens, young adults, or individuals uncomfortable with digital payments to transact securely.
- Ease of household financial management: Parents, elders, or employers can delegate routine payment tasks.
- Support controlled spending: Maintains transparency while allowing delegated transactions.
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Transaction Limit | Up to ₹15,000 per month for the secondary user |
| Delegation Period | 1 month to 5 years (as decided by the primary user) |
| Account Requirement | Secondary user can transact via the primary user’s UPI-linked account |
| Transparency | All transactions are visible to the primary user |
| Independent Payments | Secondary user can make payments without prior approval for each transaction |
2. Sebi Considers Revising Promoter Definition for IPO-bound Companies
Source: BL
Context:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is exploring changes to how promoters are defined in companies planning initial public offerings (IPOs). The move aims to ensure that promoter status reflects actual control and influence, rather than historical association or nominal holdings, reducing investor confusion and improving transparency.
Promoter
A promoter in an IPO is an individual or entity who:
- Directly or indirectly controls the company or has the ability to influence management and policy decisions.
- Initiates or contributes to the formation of the company, setting up its operations, strategy, or capital structure.
- Is identified in the IPO prospectus to inform investors about accountability, stability, and long-term commitment.
- May include founders, key shareholders, or entities with significant influence, even if not the largest shareholder.
Key Issues Identified
- Legacy Labels vs. Real Control
- Individuals named as promoters may no longer hold operational or strategic control.
- Some companies list former founders or historical promoters, while private equity or institutional investors hold real influence.
- Transparency Gaps
- Beneficial owners and those exerting indirect control through side agreements may not be disclosed.
- Misleading promoter labels affect investor perception and legal obligations for those named.
- Reclassification Challenges
- Current rules on reclassifying promoters to public shareholders may not suit pre-IPO ownership structures.
- Investment bankers currently guide promoter classification, leading to inconsistencies.
Proposed Changes
| Proposal | Details |
|---|---|
| Basis for Promoter Identification | Companies to explain the rationale for naming promoters based on actual control and influence, not historical affiliation or shareholding. |
| Disclosure of Beneficial Owners | List individuals/entities with ultimate control and clarify why they are not promoters. |
| Indirect Control Check | Confirm that informal arrangements or side agreements do not grant unlisted parties control. |
| Reclassification Rules | Avoid mechanical application of promoter reclassification rules to IPO-bound firms. |
| Redefinition of Control | Align with takeover regulations, focusing on ability to influence policy/management, rather than numerical thresholds (e.g., 15% voting rights). |
3. RBI’s Practical Stance on Family Trusts & Investment Companies
Source: ET
Context:
- RBI is allowing, on a case-by-case basis, the transfer of ownership of NBFCs or Core Investment Companies (CICs) to family trusts.
- Earlier, RBI was hesitant due to concerns over opacity of trusts and hidden control shifts.
- Objective: Facilitate succession planning and orderly wealth management in family-run businesses while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Key Provisions
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Trustees | Must be family members; professional/external trustees generally not permitted. |
| Control Transfer | Ownership/control can be transferred to trusts; RBI approval required for significant change (≥26%). |
| Regulatory Oversight | Ensures no hidden or informal control passes to outsiders. |
| Compliance with SEBI Rules | For trusts holding listed company shares, SEBI disclosure & open offer norms must be followed. |
| Objective | Support succession planning, transparency, and family legacy preservation. |
Significance
- Recognizes modern corporate-family structures and evolving wealth-holding practices.
- Enables smooth inter-generational transfer of assets and minimizes family disputes.
- Improves regulatory clarity and transparency for NBFCs/CICs owned via family trusts.
- Balances family autonomy with RBI oversight to prevent misuse or hidden control.
Agriculture
1. Planting 6 Ideas for a Resilient Agriculture in India
Source: ET
Context:
Despite being a leading global producer of key crops, Indian agriculture faces challenges including rain dependence, fragmented landholdings, limited credit access, technology gaps, post-harvest losses, and market volatility. To build a resilient and profitable farming ecosystem, structural reforms and market-oriented strategies are crucial.
Six Key Ideas for Agri-Resilience:
- Commercialise Agriculture
- Promote corporate and contract farming with safeguards.
- Professionalise the end-to-end agricultural value chain: inputs → production → post-harvest logistics.
- Encourage retail chains and food processors to establish farmer-linked supply chains, increasing productivity and regional crop development.
- Expand Exports
- Move beyond traditional exports like basmati rice and sugar.
- Focus on processed dairy, horticulture products, millets, and cereals to raise farm incomes.
- Ensure stable foreign trade policies, using export curbs only in exceptional cases.
- Pair export expansion with contract farming to ensure steady supply and quality.
- Spread eNAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market)
- Provide farmers real-time access to farm prices across regions.
- Enable selling in the mandi of choice to maximize income.
- Leverage mobile phones and UPI adoption for seamless digital price feeds.
- Expand Commodity Futures Trading
- Reintroduce futures markets for cereals, pulses, and oilseeds under robust regulation.
- Futures trading offers price signals and risk-hedging tools, preventing price crashes from overproduction (the “cobweb cycle”).
- Encourage FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) to trade on NCDEX/MCX and hedge prices effectively.
- Popularise Warehouse Receipt Financing
- Farmers can store produce instead of selling immediately, using warehouse receipts as collateral for credit.
- Reduces exploitation by middlemen and provides price stability throughout the year.
- Banks gain confidence due to verified crop quantity, quality, and pricing.
- Focus on Warehousing Infrastructure
- States must expand modern storage facilities with grading and assaying systems.
- Warehousing supports both spot and futures trading.
- Should be treated on par with roads and railways at the central policy level.
2. Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Agricultural Transformation: World Bank Report
Source: World Bank
Context:
- The World Bank–led report “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Agricultural Transformation” highlights responsible scaling of AI in agrifood systems, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- AI adoption is increasingly systemic, spanning crop advisory, insurance, logistics, market intelligence, and climate resilience, beyond pilot projects.
Current Trends in AI for Agriculture
- Shift to GenAI & Multimodal AI
- Combines text, images, satellite data, and sensor feeds.
- Offers local-language advisories and predictive insights for farmers.
- Systems-Level Adoption
- AI is used across the entire value chain rather than isolated pilots.
- Rapid Investment Growth
- Market ~US$1.5 bn (2023); projected to reach ~US$10.2 bn by 2032.
- LMIC-Focused Experiments
- AI projects in Africa and Asia for hyperlocal weather, pest diagnosis, and input optimization.
- “Small AI” on Phones
- Lightweight models usable offline or on basic smartphones, improving accessibility.
Opportunities of AI in Agriculture
| Area | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Productivity | Precision farming, irrigation, fertilizer tools; yield increase 20–30%, chemical use reduction up to 95%. |
| Climate Resilience | AI-assisted breeding, risk modeling, cropping pattern planning. |
| Income & Market Access | Initiatives like Saagu Baagu (India) and Hello Tractor enhance productivity and optimize machinery use. |
| Inclusive Finance & Risk Mitigation | AI-driven micro-insurance, alternative credit scoring for unbanked smallholders. |
| Public Policy | Early-warning systems, yield & price forecasts, and targeted subsidies for food security planning. |
Key Initiatives Already Taken
- Global AI Roadmap
- 60 use cases across LMICs; guidance on applications, governance, and investments.
- Research Institutions
- IRRI, CIMMYT use ML & computer vision to speed up phenotyping and genebank screening.
- Data Coalitions & Exchanges
- Ethiopia’s “Coalition of the Willing” and India’s Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) for local AI model training.
- Public–Private Digital Platforms
- Platforms like AIEP (Kenya) and Bihar pilots GenAI tools in local languages for tens of thousands of farmers.
Key Challenges
| Challenge | Details |
|---|---|
| Digital Divide & Infrastructure Gaps | Limited internet/electricity access in rural LMICs. |
| Data Bias & Scarcity | Most training data from high-income regions; local crops and practices underrepresented. |
| Low Human Capital & Trust | Limited digital skills; language barriers; distrust of automated advice. |
| Weak Governance & Regulation | Lack of clear rules on data ownership, privacy, and algorithm accountability. |
| Risk of Exclusion & Concentration | AI could favor large agribusinesses and deepen inequalities without safeguards. |
Way Ahead
- Adopt National AI Strategies with Agri Focus
- Integrate AI into food-security, climate, and nutrition policies.
- Invest in Digital Public Infrastructure & Connectivity
- Expand rural broadband, green data centers, and interoperable registries.
- Build Inclusive Data Ecosystems
- Support Agricultural Data Exchange Nodes and FAIR/open data principles.
- Strengthen Skills and Extension Systems
- Train farmers, extension workers, and agri-startups in AI literacy, using local-language multimodal tools.
- Create Robust Governance & Ethical Frameworks
- Enact laws on data rights, transparency, environmental standards, and accountability, leveraging sandboxes and participatory policymaking.
Facts To Remember
1. Ahmedabad formally named 2030 CWG host
The Commonwealth Games will return to India after a gap of 20 years, with Ahmedabad hosting the 2030 centenary edition.
2. India clinches silver and bronze medals
India’s young paddlers made a strong debut at the ITTF World youth table tennis championships 2025 at Cluj Napoca (Romania), returning with a historic silver medal in the under-19 boys’ team event and a bronze in the under-15 girls’ team event.
3. Urban Employment Rises by 4.5%, Rural Jobs Fall by 4.7% in July–September FY26
The unincorporated sector in India saw marginal growth in the number of small businesses and jobs during July–September 2025. While urban employment rose, rural jobs declined, reflecting shifting economic activity and sectoral dynamics.
4. CBDT Launches ‘NUDGE’ Campaign Urging Taxpayers to Review and Revise Returns by Month-End
The Central Board of Direct Taxes, CBDT has launched a special campaign to advice taxpayers to voluntarily review and revise their returns on or before 31st of next month to avoid penal consequences.
5. Government Approves Tex-RAMPS Research & Innovation Scheme
The Government has approved the Textiles Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning and Start-up (Tex-RAMPS) Scheme.
6. India to Grow 6.6% Next Fiscal, Says IMF Report
The International Monetary Fund said that India’s economy is estimated to grow at 6.6 per cent in 2025-26.
